India, Japan agree to bolster defence ties

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi convened a bilateral meeting in New Delhi, where they agreed to strengthen security ties, including maritime cooperation. The two ministers signed a memorandum focusing on maritime security cooperation during their talks. Both nations are members of the Quad security alliance alongside the United States and Australia, a group seen as a counterbalance to China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean and broader Asia-Pacific region.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepen defence cooperation and realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, emphasizing that such collaboration is crucial not only for Japan and India but also for the region and the global community. India has been eager for Tokyo to play a more significant role, leveraging Tokyo's technology to bolster India's efforts to develop its domestic military hardware industry through the Make in India initiative.

The ministers also discussed exploring joint development in naval shipbuilding and design, combining Japan's technological expertise with India's production capabilities. This visit by Koizumi follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi in July, where they pledged to enhance cooperation on critical minerals, a sector dominated by China.

Takaichi had cautioned that Japan and India faced challenges, including the "weaponisation of the economy" and non-market policies, which China saw as a pretext for forming exclusive groups and escalating tensions.